This article reports implementation and performance of the artificial force induced reaction (AFIR) method in the upcoming 2017 version of GRRM program (GRRM17). The AFIR method, which is one of automated reaction path search methods, induces geometrical deformations in a system by pushing or pulling fragments defined in the system by an artificial force. In GRRM17, three different algorithms, that is, multicomponent algorithm (MC‐AFIR), single‐component algorithm (SC‐AFIR), and double‐sphere algorithm (DS‐AFIR), are available, where the MC‐AFIR was the only algorithm which has been available in the previous 2014 version. The MC‐AFIR does automated sampling of reaction pathways between two or more reactant molecules. The SC‐AFIR performs automated generation of global or semiglobal reaction path network. The DS‐AFIR finds a single path between given two structures. Exploration of minimum energy structures within the hypersurface in which two different electronic states degenerate, and an interface with the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics method, are also described. A code termed SAFIRE will also be available, as a visualization software for complicated reaction path networks. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Computational Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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In the last decade, cooperative catalysis has received considerable attention as a powerful synthetic method. [1] Two or more catalysts function simultaneously or sequentially in a single reaction vessel to construct complicated molecules, which provides a means to perform unprecedented syntheses that cannot be achieved by a single catalyst. Various catalytic combinations involving transition metals, organocatalysts, and biocatalysts have been developed thus far. [2] A typical example is the combined use of lipases and transition metals to attain the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic secondary alcohols for producing single enantiomer products in up to 100 % yields, [3] in contrast to the use of lipases alone, which can only achieve maximum yields of 50 %. In this DKR process, the enzymatic enantioselective esterification of racemic alcohols is combined with the transition-metal-catalyzed continuous racemization of optically active alcohols, which remain intact during the enzymatic reaction, through a redox process. However, such cooperative cocatalysis often encounters crucial issues of low compatibility between the lipases and the transition metals. Although intense efforts have been devoted to developing highly active racemization catalysts, [4, 5] only a few ruthenium complexes have met both the requirement of sufficient compatibility with lipases and high racemization activity. [5] We recently reported that a combination of oxovanadium compounds (4 or 5) with lipases accomplished the efficient and direct conversion of racemic allylic alcohols (AE)-1 and (AE)-2 into optically active allyl esters (R)-3. [6] This method featured a unique racemization process wherein 4 (or 5) catalyzed the racemization of (S)-1 with 1,3-transposition of the hydroxy group of 1 or 2, while the lipases effected chemoand enantioselective esterification. This is significantly different from the above-mentioned ruthenium-catalyzed DKRs and offered a synthetic advantage in that both (AE)-1 and (AE)-2 were available as equivalent substrates. However, this method required further improvement in both catalytic activity and compatibility of the oxovanadium catalysts with the lipases. [7,8] Herein, we report the preparation of a novel oxovanadium catalyst (V-MPS) immobilized inside mesoporous silica (MPS) with pores of approximately 3 nm in diameter, which enabled a complete division of the racemization site and the enzymatic reaction site. The combined lipase-V-MPS catalyst is reusable and achieved DKR of a wide range of racemic alcohols with excellent chemical and optical yields (Scheme 1).The immobilization of oxovanadium species inside a solid carrier with microsized pores or multilayered structures [9] enables the minimization of interactions between the oxovanadium species and lipases while maintaining easy access of substrate molecules to the metal center. The solid carrier should be neutral and non-charged in order to exert little adverse effect on the lipases. Among the various potential solid carriers, [10,11] MPS,...

Kinetic analysis by the rate constant matrix contraction on the reaction route network of CO oxidation on the Pt(111) surface obtained by the artificial force induced reaction reveals the impact of entropic contributions arising from a variety of local minima and transition states.